We now expect that our church buildings will be closed for Sunday meetings for some time. However, in this time of crisis – while church leaders are discovering new ways of serving their own people during lockdown – many churches are also rising to the challenge of meeting needs in the wider community.

In Woking, Welcome Church has previously had connections with a local charity, ‘Your Sanctuary’, helping survivors of domestic violence and their families. The rise in domestic violence during this lockdown period has been highlighted in the media. In early April the National Domestic Abuse helpline reported a 25% increase in calls and online requests for help since the lockdown. Discovering that the charity’s funding had dropped significantly, the church has committed itself to raising money for the work.

Steve Petch, Lead Pastor, explains “At Welcome Church, we love people and want to respond to Jesus’ call to support and help others, even at this difficult time when we can’t meet with people face to face. When we heard that during the Coronavirus Lockdown incidences of Domestic Violence have risen considerably, whilst at the same time charitable giving has fallen and great charities like ‘Your Sanctuary’ were struggling, we wanted to do something to help. Domestic violence destroys lives and families, so we have set about trying to raise £24,901. Why such a specific number? Because we are asking everyone who is part of Welcome Church to measure and log their daily exercise distance each day and to see if we can travel the distance around the world – 24,901 miles.”

You can read the recent blogs of Lead Pastor, Steve Petch to see how he has encouraged his church to use their daily exercise routines – walking, running, cycling, roller skating, scooting or an exercise machine – to raise the money. If you would like to contribute to their total, or to see how they are getting on, please visit the GoFundMe page. You can also keep up to date with their progress and see photos of people completing their daily exercise on the churches Facebook Page or Instagram.

-----Thank you for your support of Jubilee+ through prayer, encouragement and financial giving. We really appreciate it. If you are in a position to make a donation to support our work at this time, you cando so here.